Although some ministers from the previous Government remain, Luís Montenegro has created new ministries and selected new ministers in this legislature.

New ministries and ministers

One of the recent novelties is the creation of the Ministry of the State Reform, ruled by Gonçalo Matias, who was 2015 a Secretary of State in a PSD government, during Pedro Passos Coelho's Government. The Ministry of the State Reform was first created in 1999, returning to the Government in 2025, for the second time. Gonçalo Matias will work to coordinate the reforms in public administration, aiming to reduce the country's bureaucracy.

A new face was also presented in the Government, Maria Lúcia Amaral, Minister of Home Affairs, who will be responsible for dealing with public security, civil defence, electoral administration, and road traffic safety. Immigration and refugee affairs will also be her responsibility. Maria Lúcia Amaral replaces Margarida Blasco, who was in the same position last year.

Still on the Government, but with different functions

Manuel Castro Almeida is currently the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, when in the last Government was selected to be Deputy Minister and Minister of Territorial Cohesion. Manuel Castro Almeida will then be responsible for the country’s economy, and also for the public measures regarding balanced territorial development.

Margarida Balseiro Lopes is now the Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. This way, the Ministry of Culture joined the Youth and Sports domain. In 2024, Margarida Balseiro Lopes was responsible for the Ministry of Youth and Modernisation. Now she is also responsible for Culture and Sports.

Carlos Abreu Amorim will start his functions as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Last year, the current Minister functioned as Secretary of State of Parliamentary Affairs. In this new position, Carlos Abreu Amorim will be responsible for securing the relationships between the Government and the parliamentary groups elected, in the Assembly of the Republic.


Keeping functions

Paulo Rangel, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, will keep his functions in the same Ministry, as well as Joaquim Sarmento, as Minister of Finance. António Leitão Amaro is the Minister of the Presidency again, and so is Nuno Melo responsible for the Ministry of National Defence again.

Besides the criticism from the opposition deputies, Ana Paula Martins will once again be Minister of Health, dealing with one of the most criticised Ministries by the population as well. Miguel Pinto Luz will keep his functions as Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, dealing with the current housing crisis, for example.

The Minister of Justice is Rita Júdice, just like in 2024, as well as Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho will keep her functions as Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security. The education will be the responsibility of Fernando Alexandre, once again selected as Minister of Education, Science and Innovation.

The Ministry of Environment and Energy will once again be ruled by Maria da Graça Carvalho, and José Manuel Fernandes will keep his functions as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.


Deputies in Parliament

The number of deputies remains the same, 230, however, the recent elections changed the number of seats from the previous legislature.

Chega is now the second political force, electing 60 deputies. Partido Socialista (PS) elected 58 deputies, becoming now the third political force, currently with no leader, after Pedro Nuno Santos's dismissal. Iniciativa Liberal (IL) grew in the number of deputies, occupying nine seats in the Parliament, in this new legislature.

When it comes to the smaller left-wing parties, Livre elected six deputies and Partido Comunista Português (PCP) has elected three deputies. Bloco de Esquerda (BE) will occupy only one seat in the Assembly of the Republic, represented by Mariana Mortágua.

With one seat only, there is also Pessoas-Animais-Natureza (PAN), with Inês Sousa Real representing the party. Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) has elected one deputy as well, who will be in the Assembly of the Republic for the first time, being represented by Filipe Sousa.

Aliança Democrática (AD) is a coalition between Partido Social Democrata (PSD) and Centro Democrático Social – Partido Popular (CDS-PP), which together elected 91 deputies: 89 from PSD and 2 from CDS-PP.

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Author

Currently, the Deputy Editor at The Portugal News, Bruno G. Santos, is really interested in national politics. With a degree in Journalism and Communication, he also loves to write about different topics like Portuguese culture, society and other current affairs. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos